Post News Network
Cuttack, March 22: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the state crime branch arrested a city-based builder from Jajpur district late Saturday night in connection with the fraudulent sale of government land in Bidanasi area of Cuttack city.
The accused, identified as Ganesh Nayak, is said to be the mastermind behind the sale of government land spread across 15 acres in Bidanasi area to people. Briefing mediapersons here Sunday, Crime Branch ADG BK Sharma said the EOW, acting on a tip-off that Nayak was hiding in Ganesh Bhawan in Jajpur, raided the building and arrested him.
“We brought Nayak to Bhubaneswar this morning for further interrogation. He was produced before the sub-divisional judicial magistrate’s (SDJM) court in Cuttack later in the day,” Sharma said.
The Orissa High Court, acting on a petition filed in the matter, had asked the CBI to conduct an enquiry into the land fraud. In its report submitted to the court, the central investigating agency said Nayak was the prime accused in the fraud.
Acting on the court’s directive, the state government had asked the EOW to register a case and start an investigation in December last year. The EOW registered a case on the basis of a report filed by the CBI and an inquiry report furnished by Baranga tehsildar Akshaya Kumar Rout, Crime Branch sources said.
Crime Branch superintendent of police Rajendra Behera said the accused had done thorough research prior to committing the crime.
“Nayak had identified prime locations and had forged several documents to pass off government lands as private. He had successfully managed to ensnare several gullible customers and had sold off plots to them. He was meticulous in his dealings, but was not perfect,” Behera said.
“The investigation conducted so far reveals the possible involvement of some settlement officials in the fraudulent land deal. Efforts are on to arrest the others involved in the case,” said an EOW official.
